Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Santiago City Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Santiago City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Makati versus $870 in Santiago City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Makati versus $1,357 in Santiago City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Makati versus $1,844 in Santiago City.

Living in Makati is roughly 42% more expensive than in Santiago City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makati 10% lower, Santiago City 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.43 ₱401

$6.39 ₱398

0.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.02 ₱2,495

$39.81 ₱2,483

0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.58 ₱286

$4.56 ₱284

0.44%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱162

$2.65 ₱165

-1.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱70.2

$1.12 ₱70.0

0.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₱29.94

$0.49 ₱30.37

-2.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ₱150

$2.34 ₱146

2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ₱203

$3.14 ₱196

3.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₱121

$1.83 ₱114

6.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 ₱76.5

$1.30 ₱81.1

-5.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.6

$1.06 ₱66.3

0.94%

Eggs

$2.47 ₱154

$1.43 ₱89.3

72.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 ₱454

$7.27 ₱453

0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱302

$4.82 ₱301

0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 ₱431

$6.95 ₱433

-0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₱248

$2.33 ₱145

70.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.98 ₱123

1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.22 ₱201

$3.29 ₱205

-2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₱148

$2.30 ₱143

3.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 ₱215

$3.48 ₱217

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱214

$3.59 ₱224

-4.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱69.2

$1.07 ₱67.0

3.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱72.3

$0.53 ₱32.83

118.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱160

$2.59 ₱162

-0.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 ₱504

$7.98 ₱498

1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₱84.0

$1.38 ₱85.9

-2.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱128

$2.07 ₱129

-0.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.3

$0.27 ₱16.91

262.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.9 ₱3,609

$11.15 ₱695

419.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₱38.33

$0.66 ₱41.45

-7.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$0.23 ₱14.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.96 ₱122

-5.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₱73.6

$1.24 ₱77.6

-4.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.7K ₱1.4M

$21.6K ₱1.3M

0.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K ₱1.2M

$19.8K ₱1.2M

-2.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$154 ₱9,630

$153 ₱9,540

0.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.28 ₱1,015

$16.42 ₱1,024

-0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.31 ₱1,953

$31.65 ₱1,973

-1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 ₱3,365

$32.63 ₱2,035

65.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.31 ₱892

$4.83 ₱301

196.27%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ₱443

$7.07 ₱441

0.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$783 ₱48.8K

$135 ₱8,394

481.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,374 ₱459.8K

$7,574 ₱472.3K

-2.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 ₱3,760

$32.56 ₱2,030

85.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 ₱2,345

$19.82 ₱1,236

89.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 ₱5,124

$80.9 ₱5,044

1.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,515

$56.4 ₱3,516

85.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$755 ₱47.1K

$266 ₱16.6K

184.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.8K

$175 ₱10.9K

144.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 ₱145.7K

$505 ₱31.5K

363.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,072 ₱66.8K

$354 ₱22.1K

202.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,941 ₱370.5K

$2,628 ₱163.9K

126.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,816 ₱238.0K

$1,058 ₱66.0K

260.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 ₱37.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: September 6, 2026

Last update for Santiago City: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $755 in Makati and $266 in Santiago City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Makati vs $40.00 in Santiago City. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $212, with Santiago City cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Santiago City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago City wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santiago City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,855 in Makati and $1,304 in Santiago City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $755 in Makati versus $266 in Santiago City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Makati versus $870 in Santiago City – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santiago City runs roughly 419% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $870 in Santiago City versus $1,237 in Makati, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santiago City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Santiago City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $870 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santiago City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Makati and Santiago City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Santiago City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.